ECIJA CHECKPOINT INTERCEPTS VAN DRIVER TRANSPORTING P1.3-M ILLEGAL CIGARETTES

BY KEVIN GALANG

POLICE on Sunday arrested a driver of a van and seized from him boxes of illegal cigarettes worth P1.35 million at a checkpoint in Bgy. Batitang, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.

In a report to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, the Nueva Ecija police identified the suspect as Recardo Idoz, 42, a driver residing in Lapaz, Tarlac.

Members of the Zaragoza Police Station under the supervision of Maj. Gregorio Bautista manning the checkpoint on San Antonio-Zaragoza Road in Bgy. Batitang, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija flagged down a white Nissan van with plate number JJ 804A for routine check. 

When the driver opened the window of the vehicle, officers saw in plain view 20 boxes of Modern Red Cigarette, 25 boxes of Modern Blue Cigarette, 20 boxes of RGD Cigarette and 10 boxes of Carnival Cigarette worth at least P1,350,000.

The driver failed to present proper documents for the boxes of cigarette resulting in his arrest and the confiscation of the items.

The suspect will be charged with violation of Repub;ic Act  9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2023.